Staten Island Five Weeks after Sandy

I accompanied my husband on a business trip to NYC in early December. Typically I am always ready to capture holiday images when I visit NY in December. This year the main goal of mine was to visit my favorite store B and H Photo then hit the streets to see the effects of Sandy. I had limited time so I had to narrow my search down to one area so I chose Staten Island. I made no arrangements for this and so I hopped on the Staten Island ferry and was deposited on Staten Island at St. George. As I left the ferry I had no idea where to go. That is when I did what comes naturally to me and asked for help. From the beginning to the end the people I encountered and spent time with were very gracious and helpful in telling me where to go to see the damage. Many shared their stories. I only had a day so I had to limit my path to the eastern portion of the island. It is my hope that you will look at each one of these images and be moved to continue to pray for all affected, donate to the relief of Sandy or get involved locally in sharing your humanity, or encourage your elected officials to plan for climate change. I only wish I had time to visit all the areas in NY and NJ that were hit by this disastrous storm.

Ellis Island was still closed at this time due to damage of power grids and piers.

Liberty Island was also closed at this time due to damage.

View of NJ, Manhattan, and Brooklyn

I traveled from St. George Ferry Station to this area on the 76 bus. Linda, the lovely bus driver was so kind and helpful in sharing stories and locations that I should go visit. I had walked from the end of the bus route which had been shortened due to Sandy to this area off Mill St. You wonder why after 5 weeks the shopping cart is still there? It is more than likely used to transport needed goods. The people and relief workers have more immediate things to do than remove the shopping cart from the street.

Scroll in on this image and notice the Do Not Enter Tape on the windows. This person was a disaster recovery worker and not the homeowner. From what I understood there was no running water in this area and many of the homes were still without power.

Another view of this house

I was dumbfounded to see that this church was moved off its foundation during the storm. Behind the church about a mile is the ocean. In this area water levels rose in minutes to 8 to 15 ft.

Another view of this church

This is Grace Bible Church. I saw a lot of American flags that day.

This is the wetland area behind the Syrian Orthodox Church that was moved off the foundation. Notice the rooftops and satellite dish amongst the debris.

More of the same view from the area where the Red Cross trucks were.

Wider angle of view of this area

Red Cross Heroes- I feel badly that I did not write down their names. The couple on the left were from Michigan and the men were from Pennsylvania and Missouri to the best of my recollection. The men on the right were on their second trip back to help with the relief post Sandy. I was very surprised to learn that the Red Cross relief trucks have to pay the tolls to get to their site.

Closer view of these heroes

Back to work

Personal response to Sandy

Geico had marked this car for a claim.

Intersection of Midland and Moreland Avenues

Same area different view- The spirit of Christmas lives on here.

Same intersection but across Moreland where STAR (Small Town America Responds) was in place.

Two neighbors, Oleg Ryabyuk and Aiman Youseff joined forces to coordinate local relief efforts after they were displaced from their home and jobs. They formed a Facebook page-Midland Ave Neighborhood Relief to coordinate this. Throughout this area I was touched by the locals who had lost their homes and or businesses or had been displaced channeling their time and energy to help their neighborhoods. So many heroes!

More flags...... along with clothes and goods drying in the sunlight. Notice a good use for an election sign. Hope this candidate was out helping.

By this time I just wished I could extend my stay in NY and help.

Some of the businesses were open for business.

I wonder if I walked this town every day how it would affect me. Many of the people were dealing with their pain just by taking the difficult but necessary steps to get order in their lives. Many had nightmares every night.

Notice the open windows, Christmas poster and homemade signs of thanks and the life jacket. The storm water with the high tide surged in a matter of minutes up to 15ft in some areas.

Kiwanis in action

This was taken on Father Capodanno Blvd in the Midland neighborhood.

Father Capodanno Blvd

Father Capadanno Blvd

Along Father Capodanno Blvd I chatted with the owner of this overturned truck, his hotdog vendor business. 5 weeks after Sandy there are more important items to attend to than remove the truck and this automobile. I don't know how far these had been moved by the storm. The hot dog vendor is being employed by the relief effort.

Close up view

The hot dog vendor truck owner is the second from the right. These men are working in the relief area since their businesses or homes were damaged.

It seemed like everywhere I looked I saw damage of some kind.

I will use her first name only. Nicole. To get further down boulevard to the tanker on the beach I boarded the 51 bus off Father Capodanno Blvd. She was the first person I saw on the crowded bus. We stood for awhile together and then shared a seat. I asked her to tell me her story. She did not evacuate. These people remembered Irene last year with only a foot of water so some did not evacuate. She said the water rose so high in minutes that she had to get on her rooftop where she was later evacuated by helicopter. She lost her apartment and since has gone through her savings by staying in a motel. She had been out to government agencies doing her paperwork for storm damage and was on her way back to the homeless shelter before it closed for the night. Her only belongings she has left she is either wearing or carrying in her bag. She has no family to help her. I will never forget her and I pray for her daily.

Close view of tanker on the beach

Extremely short on time now as I had to get to the train station to catch the last ferry back to Manhattan before darkness fell, I stopped here. The waters of Sandy moved this tanker on shore to the parking lot. It is being repaired inside so it can be moved without causing further environmental damage.

Another hero, Mark Brown a union electrician. I met him on the train from Clifton to St. George ferry. His job since Sandy is to report to the affected areas and get their electrical lines repaired. He has been working every day, yes that is seven days a week, every week since Sandy. He leaves his home in Brooklyn before dawn and catches the ferry to the areas affected. He has worked at Rockaways, Queens, and throughout Staten Island. Many days he does not get home before 10pm. Thank you Mark Brown for sharing your story with me.

Heading back to Manhattan I take with me all I was fortunate to see today. I am grateful I stepped out of my comfort zone and came to an unknown place Staten Island, encountered strong and caring people, observed the destruction and pain in the the people's eyes and the determination of their spirit along with the heartbreaking and heart warming stories. I encourage all to not forget about the eastern coastline and the devastation that our fellow Americans and citizens of this planet we share.